So far, users are currently five times less likely to be running Windows 8 as they were Windows 7 at the same point before its launch. The new statistics come from research firm Net Applications and indicate a lukewarm reception of the Windows 8 operating system by consumers.

Windows 7 was a follow-up to Windows Vista, which was one of the more maligned versions of Microsoft's operating system in recent years. Windows 7 lured many upgraders not only from Vista, but from the older XP operating system as well. Windows 8 doesn't have the luxury of following an unloved version of Windows like Windows 7.

The statistics offered by Net Applications only count computer users who installed preview versions of Windows 8 and preview versions of Windows 7. The statistics are believed to provide a clear indication of consumer interest in the operating system rather than a desire or need for new computer hardware.

In September, only 0.33% of all computers using Windows relied on Windows 8. That works out to 33 out of every 10,000 Windows machines using Windows 8. By the end of September 2009, with very similar time remaining before the launch of Windows 7, the operating system accounted for 1.64% of all Windows PCs working out to 164 out of every 10,000 units.

Analysts are beginning to believe that Microsoft won't see the uptick in OS sales that it hoped for with Windows 8. Gartner recently advised clients that it predicts the operating system would top out at only 20 to 25% share in the corporate environment.

This information does not surprise me at all. There is just not as much incentive for people to upgrade to Win 8 as there was to Win 7. I know a lot of techies like Win 8, but there are also just as many that do not like it. This was not the case for Windows 7. Personally, I think Microsoft made a big mistake by forcing the touch screen UI (Metro) on desktops and laptops. That interface is just way more cumbersome when you're using a keyboard and mouse. They made an even bigger mistake by removing the start menu and the ability to boot to desktop.

If you think there's a lot of unhappiness about Win 8 now, wait until your average user starts working with it. I think it is going to fail, big time. I just hope MS realizes their mistake and fixes things.

I agree, but if they did that no one other than users of touch screen interface users would use the new windows 8 interface.Looking back i was running Windows 7 RC for months before it was released i couldn't get off XP fast enough at work Windows 7 hands down the best OS Microsoft has ever released. For me there are way more negative to moving to Windows 8 mainly due to the parity between Microsoft operating systems and Gnome/KDE linux close enough that i have recently started the process to relegate Windows 7 to play games and handle iTunes media only. While my day to day computing needs will be handled by Fedora Core.

That's a silly point. Windows 8 still has a fully functional desktop environment, so using the excuse that "performing task <x> in metro on a keyboard and mouse is slower than on Windows 7" is just completely ignoring the other ways to do it. You're imposing an artificial restriction on how you perform that task for the purpose of complaining about metro.

I have no 'issues' with the new interface other than it does not work as well for what I do on my computer. I do not need anything to be full screen ever. Especially something which was as simple as the start button.

I have spent enough time testing windows 8 to know that the majority of the UI changes were not intended for me. It is frustrating as it looks like the core of the OS has been polished and would be a nice upgrade if not for the UI.